An Garda Síochána

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 June 2022

Tuesday, 14 June 2022

Questions (1311, 1312, 1313)

Pat Buckley

Question:

1311. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Justice if she will report to the Houses of the Oireachtas the number of persons under the age of 18 years in 2019, 2020, 2021 and this year to date who informed the arresting member of An Garda Síochána and-or the member-in-charge of the Garda station that they were transported to, that they had ADHD or that they were a vulnerable person, were strip searched without the presence of an appropriate adult; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29568/22]

Pat Buckley

Question:

1312. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Justice if she will report to the Houses of the Oireachtas the number of persons under the age of 18 years in 2019, 2020, 2021 and this year to date who informed the arresting member of An Garda Síochána and-or the member-in-charge of the Garda station that they were transported to, that they had ADHD or were a vulnerable person, were strip searched in the presence of an appropriate adult, and can the breakdown of the information be provided per Garda division; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29569/22]

Pat Buckley

Question:

1313. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Justice if she will report to the Houses of the Oireachtas the number of persons under the age of 18 years in 2019, 2020, 2021 and this year to date who informed the arresting member of An Garda Síochána and-or the member-in-charge of the Garda station that they were transported to, that they had ADHD or were a vulnerable person, were assaulted while in the custody of An Garda Síochána, by Garda division; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29570/22]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1311 to 1313, inclusive, together.

As the Deputy will be aware there are a series of procedural safeguards in place with regard to the treatment in custody and questioning of children under the Criminal Justice Act 1984 (Treatment of Persons in Custody in Garda Síochána Stations) Regulations, 1987, and the Children Act, 2001.

Any breaches of these provisions would be a very serious matter and if the Deputy is aware of any individuals who have been subject to such breaches, I would strongly encourage them to contact either the Garda Commissioner or the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible by law for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including operational policing matters. As Minister, I have no role in these matters.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that an extensive search was conducted for relevant keywords across both Prisoner Logs and associated Person Records created since 1 January 2019, however no relevant matches relevant to the Deputy’s query were returned.

However, should the Deputy be aware of any such breaches of the provisions which are in place, I would once again encourage those involved to make contact with appropriate authorities.

Question No. 1312 answered with Question No. 1311.

Question No. 1313 answered with Question No. 1311.